International Students

Support for International Students

The mission of CHS is to provide a caring , secure , and motivational environment for international students determined to pursue secondary studies in Canada. CHS strives to enhance effective support for the emotional , academic , and social lives of its students. CHS also has a small population of students who were born or grew up in Canada. Their backgrounds differ greatly from most of the international students, and these students act as supportive ambassadors and hosts to Canadian youth culture and experiences.

Homestay arrangement, airport pickup service and settlement services are offered to students by a professional student service company affiliated with CHS. CHS carefully monitors the service of this company and assures that students from overseas receive the structure and support they require in their home lives.

For most of the international student body attending CHS, Canada and Vancouver present exotic, challenging, and fascinating social and cultural experiences. Every part of the school is geared to help students make the most of their foreign educational sojourns.

Important notes for homestay applicants:

The Homestay Placement Fee is non-refundable. A one month’s homestay fee, the security deposit, and the placement fee must be paid in full upon submission of the application for admission to CHS.

Once a student has confirmed the success in obtaining a Study Permit, s/he should inform CHS at least 10 working days prior to arrival in Canada..

If cancellation occurs one week before the start date, 100% of the fees, minus the placement fee, will be refunded to the student. If a student must cancel because s/he fails to be granted a Study Permit, 100% of all fees paid to the school will be refunded.

Homestay students must give one month’s notice to change or cancel a home stay reservation after they have moved in to the homestay residence.

CHS will try its best to arrange a satisfactory homestay placement. However, students are advised that they are solely responsible for remaining or terminating the homestay residence and their decisions should be clearly communicated with the homestay families.

Vancouver, British Columbia

The city of Vancouver is located in the Southwest corner of British Columbia , and is 40 km north of the US border. The region around the City of Vancouver includes such areas as Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam, Langley and North and West Vancouver, and is known as the Lower Mainland .

This region, the third largest in Canada, is the fastest growing urban zone in the country. Vancouver is widely accepted as one of the most beautiful and ethnically diverse cities in the world . With the mountain ranges to the north and the Strait of Georgia to the west, the city is surrounded by nature. Situated close to both the United States and Asia, Vancouver is a major port for international trade, commerce, and travel. The Lower Mainland is on Pacific Standard Time, which is the same time zone found in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

Due to the warm Japanese current which flows past Vancouver, the city enjoys a mild climate year round, never getting either too hot or too cold. Most retail stores in Vancouver sell uni-seasonal clothing, as there is little need for heavy winter coats; however, students should be prepared for the occasional heat wave in the summer or snowfall in the winter. In general, winter temperatures rarely fall below the zero degree mark. Mild winter months are mostly rainy, so students should have an umbrella, a rain jacket, and appropriate footwear.

International students at CHS are required to enroll for full time studies — four courses per semester — at the grade level determined upon review of their prior education experiences and educational goals. Students may begin their studies in January, May, or September. This trimester rotation has the benefit of allowing students to complete their high school studies up to 30 percent more quickly than in the traditional linear (12 month) system. There are three school breaks per year: two weeks at the end of April, four weeks in August, and two weeks at the end of December.

Applications should be sent at least four months ahead of the intended start date to ensure placement within the program. All new students are tested for their English proficiency before they enter classes.